Seven Olives a Day Can Keep the Doctor Away

Mother told us that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ but if you’re in Spain, change that apple for an olive, or rather seven of them, because, according to the experts, if you eat at least 7 table olives a day – and that’s not difficult, believe me – you’ll enjoy a measure of protection from heart problems, as well as receiving essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids in a most delightful way.

It doesn’t matter whether your olives are green or black, stuffed or otherwise, just tuck in and reap the health benefits. The good news is, this is one health food that won’t cost a fortune. Buy your olives from market stalls, or in the supermarket with the rest of your shopping. Don’t feel you’re settling for second best by buying tinned olives, because, if you watch the market traders setting up, you’ll see that most of their stock comes from giant tins which they decant into containers for service!

There’s no waste with tinned olives, because they range from tiny cans containing about 10 – 15 olives, to the enormous catering-sized tins beloved of the market traders. In the unlikely event that you don’t eat all your olives in one sitting, they will keep for a day or two in the fridge, as long as you retain a little of the brine they are packed in to keep them moist and remove them from the can. If you’re concerned about your sodium intake, rinse your olives in cold water before serving, to remove residual salt.

The choice of olives can be baffling, but my advice is to buy one tin each of 3 or 4 varieties and see which you prefer. Quality standards are pretty consistent, so it doesn’t really matter whether you go for branded names or ‘own brands.’ You can buy a decent can of olives for as little as 30 cents, (about 25p) so you can afford the odd mistake, though I’ll be very surprised if you make one. I’ve yet to find a tin of olives that I can’t eat and enjoy.

Olives make great tapas, and provide a healthy alternative to crisps and nuts when you serve drinks and nibbles. My favourites are green olives stuffed with anchovies, but I also enjoy them stuffed with red peppers. Black olives have a slightly different flavour which can be an acquired taste, but they are great as a pizza topping, adding colour, texture and flavour. I usually go for pitted olives, particularly when we have guests, as it avoids the potential for embarrassment when disposing of the stones. Buen Apetito!